Tyler Gillean Mrs. Martin World Literature 21 March 2024 The Treasure In the novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, the main character Santiago encounters many teachers who assist him on his journey. While he learned from many, each teacher had a unique life-long strength to offer him. These teachers help him to find the true meaning of life and what it entails. From kings to shop owners, to random people he meets on a bus, and even the Alchemist himself, there are many teachers who aided in his quest for self-discovery. To begin with, one of the teachers is an old king by the name of Melchizedek who rules over Salem, and he teaches him about following his personal legend saying, “whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something [...] it's your mission on earth”(Coelho 24). This quote explains how Melchizedek symbolizes the importance of following one's dreams and closely listening to the heart. Melchizedek's teachings help Santiago to understand the interconnectedness of all …show more content…
By not changing his ways, the crystal merchant set an example to Santiago by telling him his regrets in life. The crystal merchant confides in Santiago explaining, “I don't want to change anything, because I don't know how to deal with change [,] I'm used to the way I am”(Coelho 60). The merchant not wanting to change goes back to the personal legend, because people might still have dreams but they don’t want to pursue them. Unlike the merchant, Santiago is still pursuing his dreams. Another teacher Santiago comes across is the Englishman, who tells him about the pursuit of knowledge and the study of alchemy. Also, the Englishman shares wisdom about life and the power of dreams; he muses, “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting”(Coelho). This quote explains how dreams can be a sense of purpose, or a reason for continuing on a